Day 10: First Drama

“I really wished… I really wished for a quiet life. Then I got involved in their game.”

Makino Tsukushi

To do research for this blog challenge (hah), I spend a lot of time rewatching bits and pieces of episodes to pick out what it was I loved/hated about a drama. It’s super time consuming, and this was the most difficult prompt yet! I honestly got so distracted by how fun “Hana Yori Dango” was to relive. This takes me back to my high school days! I think I only started watching because Utada Hikaru sang the insert song for the sequel (which had just started), and I wanted to catch up. Fortunately for me it was a great drama to start with because the story was already a certified classic and judging by the versions that came before this adaptation, something was working!

Still, I was feeling really torn up about the perennial Rui versus Domyouji conflict. You’re either for one or the other, and this is the kind of thing that shapes your drama experiences forever… at least it did mine, because I don’t remember ever rooting for a secondary lead to get the girl after watching HYD. For some reason though, Rui being so sweet and kind was brand new to me!

Domyouji on the other hand suuuuuuuuuuucked. I had to rub my eyes for a little bit because I feel like I watched everything though rose-colored glasses the first time, hah. Seeing the way his mom treats others, it’s no wonder that he was such an unrepentant butt. Sanctioning the sexual assault of a girl (MY GIRL) who crossed you… if your friend has to tell you “rape is bad” then you already dun goofed, son. I think the only reason I was so content to see where it all went was because I really wanted to see his comeuppance.

And it only took her one punch. ONE LOOK! And it was good.

So yeah, Domyouji was put in his place. That still didn’t solve my question: why not Rui? Episode 3 went at a breakneck pace, but this is where I believe Hanazawa Rui made a fatal error; he went to France! You can’t leave Tsukushi hanging like that! That window left Domyouji with ample time to learn how to not be a complete f&*kboy and do adorable things like writing love letters to his bff Rui, incorrect kanji and all. He grew on Tsukushi and he grew on me the viewers. You also can’t lose when you say stuff like this:

#ICONIC

. . .

(More) Reasons to Watch: It’s hilarious. Matsumoto Jun being a complete goofnugget. Yung Matsuda Shota! HANAZAWA RUI. Only 9 episodes and perfect to digest! Matsushima Nanako’s old nose (RIP).
Honorable Mention: First Korean drama was “The Devil” (KBS2 / 2007)! My heart still aches thinking about it.